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Idle No More organizer receives threat

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An Idle No More organizer says she has contacted police after receiving a bizarre package containing death threats.

Lesley Belleau, who lives in Peterborough, said she learned of the threats from her sister, who received the envelope last week.

Belleau said inside the package was a letter that included the words, 'You are a dead piece of sh*t. A good Indian is a Dead Indian. Stay away from the SOO Lesley Belleau.'

“It's pretty outrageous, really,” said Belleau in an interview on Friday.

Also in the envelope were newspaper clippings that reference Belleau's involvement in Idle No More protests in the Sault area and a cut-out photo of Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo.

Belleau said the Atleo photo was defaced with lewd drawings and depictions of guns around his head.

Belleau, a native of Garden River who is studying for her PhD, said she has reported the letter to police. She said she hasn't seen the package itself, but had it described to her in detail by her sister.

The envelope, which actually went to another address before being delivered to Belleau's sister early last week, was addressed from 'Red Nosen, Echo Bay.' Belleau said it was post marked Jan. 4.

The Anishinabek Police detachment in Garden River could not be reached for comment.

Belleau, whose father was part of the Oka Crisis in Quebec in 1990, said this isn't the first time her family has been the target of what seems to be a racially-motivated threat.

She said it won't stop her from speaking out.

“In fact, it makes me want to speak out more because I think indigenous women specifically need to start speaking out more. We're not victims,” said Belleau.

A posting Belleau made about the threats is being circulated on Facebook. She said she is not dismissing this incident in light of the history in Canada of racially-motivated violence against aboriginal women. In particular, Belleau pointed to the Dec. 27 abduction and gang rape of a 36-year-old native woman in Thunder Bay.